Jim Lange
Lambertville, MI
Jim Lange
“ O ur Most Valuable
Asset Sits 63 Feet
Ahead”
A while back, my family and I were driving to Florida for vacation when my
lovely bride pointed out the sign painted on the back of a truck. As we passed
it, I read what it said, “Our most valuable asset sits 63 feet ahead” (referring
to the guy driving the truck). Isn’t that awesome? In this age of Corporate
America where greed seems to rule, this was very refreshing to see.
Seeing this truck, I was reminded of a conversation I had with a mentor
of mine about two years ago. I was really struggling with stress and I was
not getting everything done that I wanted. As a result, I was putting a lot of
pressure on myself. I called this friend and mentor, someone who is well ahead
of me in his spiritual walk, and asked, “Al, you have so many more demands on
your schedule than I do (he owns several companies and is traveling all over
the world working on some Great Commission endeavors.) How do you deal
with not getting all your stuff done each day?” Al chuckled and said, “Jim, God
dealt with me on that long ago. I love progress, and I love getting stuff done.
However, what God showed me was that people and relationships are more
important. So, what I began to do is, whenever
an employee comes in my office — which happens
frequently — I do my best to lay aside whatever I’m
working on and focus on them, even if I’m in the
middle of something important. I figure that God
is bringing this person into my life at this moment
for a reason — either for them to speak into my life
or for me to speak into theirs. So when I am in one
of these conversations, I make it a point to let my
employee end the conversation. In other words, I
give them the time they need.”
Wow. I was stunned. I thought to myself
how often I don’t do this in my own life, especially
with my own family — ”I can’t talk now, I’ve got
something really important to get done!” Al continued, “The way I look at it, if I honor
God in this conversation, He’ll take care of what
needs to get done on my task list.”
Double wow. I realized that perhaps my biggest problem was my lack of
faith. I often have more faith in myself to get stuff done than I do in my
Heavenly Father. This causes me to sometimes put my tasks ahead of people.
Ouch. This is especially hard for me to take since one of my primary purposes is
to help people grow into who God desires them to be. Relationships should be
of primary importance to me. Yet, I don’t always treat them that way. Yikes.
Relationships are most important. That is something I need to be told
often, even though I’m in the business I’m in. It is just another reminder that
I’m a work in progress. I’m not where I need to be, but thank God I’m not
where I used to be!
Relationships
should be
of primary
importance
to me.
Yet , I
don't alway
treat them
that way.
CCA Supplier member, Jim Lange is the author of the books Bleedership, Biblical First-Aid for Leaders
and Calming the Storm Within: How to Find Peace in This Chaotic World (www.calmingthestormwithin.
com). He also serves as a coach and consultant to business leaders and as president of 5feet20,
a ministry that provides personalized newsletters to help doctors easily, effectively and consistently
encourage and affect the spiritual health of their patients. For more information and to learn how to
receive a free gift that is only available to CCA members, go to 5feet20.com/cca.
6 — OCTOBER 2013